What it is and where it fits
The Siemens 3RT2516-1BE40 is a Size S00 SIRIUS contactor with screw-type terminals for the main current circuit and magnet coil. It mounts via screw or snap-on onto 35 mm DIN rail per DIN EN 50022, and the 45 mm width and 73 mm depth mean it slots into a standard 45 mm-wide DIN cell — no overhang into adjacent breaker or relay positions.
Switching ratings — what they mean for the load
The 3RT2516-1BE40 carries a 10 A rated operational current at 24 V and at 230 V, and 3 A at 400 V. At 48 V and 60 V it switches 2 A; at 110 V it switches 1 A; at 220 V it switches 0.3 A; at 440 V it switches 0.8 A; at 600 V it switches 0.1 A. These are the contactor's rated currents for the auxiliary contacts — they tell you the maximum continuous load the contacts can handle at each voltage level. For a 24 VDC control signal, 10 A is generous; for a 600 VAC pilot circuit, the 0.1 A limit means you are switching a signal, not a power load.
Mechanical endurance and switching frequency
Rated for 30,000,000 typical mechanical operations, with a maximum switching frequency of 10,000 cycles per hour at AC and 1,000 cycles per hour at AC-1. The arcing time runs 10 to 15 ms, and the DC operating time is 7 to 13 ms. For a high-cycling conveyor or packaging line, the 10,000 1/h AC rate means it can keep pace with rapid pick-and-place or indexing sequences without derating.
Mounting and clearances
The contactor allows side-by-side mounting with zero clearance required upwards, forwards, backwards, and downwards. Side clearance is 6 mm. Mounting position allows +/-180° rotation on a vertical surface and +/-22.5° tilt forward or backward. The screw-type terminals accept 2x 0.5 to 1.5 mm² solid, 2x 0.75 to 2.5 mm² stranded, or 2x 4 mm² — covers standard control wiring with ferruled or solid conductors.
Environmental range and storage
Operating temperature range is -25 to +60 °C; storage range is -55 to +80 °C. The storage limit governs handling and warehousing — the contactor can sit in a cold warehouse or hot truck without damage, but the operating limit is the one that matters once it's energized in the panel.